This apartment belongs to a couple, with an adult son living at home. Their wish was to move to a penthouse with spaciousness, privacy for the youngster and for themselves, plus the option to host freely and comfortably. After searching, they came to the conclusion that it was more feasible to renovate their existing apartment and optimize the spaces as well as to accommodate for economic constraints.

Before

We accepted the challenge and came up with a design that in effect, turned their home into a penthouse that fulfilled all their fantasies.

After

By eliminating one of the rooms that was already obsolete, we enlarged the public space with direct access to a large terrace facing a landscape of tree canopies and beyond. For the young man, we created a private unit, while still allowing the use of the facilities for guests, as was deemed necessary. In addition to that, the couple also enjoys their very own private suite.

In this project, the couple elected to use our design services in all the facets of their home, and the final outcome reflects this in a thoughtful and well executed apartment, where everything combines seamlessly and in perfect harmony. The materials were chosen with care to be neutral in color and of good quality. However, colors were introduced in focal points to blend and match with the family’s art collection. We also chose the furniture throughout the apartment. Lighting was an element to be considered with special care. Furthermore, we designed the carpentry work to accommodate all the family’s needs. As in all of our projects, the actual construction and execution was closely supervised by us, making sure that every step was carried out in the best possible way.

A restaurant needs to be planned and executed on a very tight schedule and budget, as once the clients have a deal on a place they want to operate in they start to lose money. This place was opened within 3 months of getting the commission. These 3 months were a very intense collaboration with the clients, including planning, material selection, bids, unique metal works and carpentry, construction, finishings and supervision. The plan is meant to maximise the sitting area while maintaining an open kitchen that can be operated by only one cook if necessary. The service in the restaurant is planned as a counter where the clients order the food and pick it up, too, but it also allows for table service, if needed.

The counter is planned to face the street to be more inviting and friendly while being as efficient with the space as possible.

The infrastructure of the place (lighting, communications, fire safety etc.) were planned in such a way as to be easy to maintain, with the cables being hung from the ceiling in an open tray for easy access.

The origins of this home go back to a family with multiple children that grew up under circumstances much different than in contemporary times.

The garden unit became one of the daughters’ and she asked us to transform it for her own use.

The result we achieved in this design is an entirely fresh approach to the spaces, giving a generous ambiance, unified public uses in direct dialogue with the outdoor area. Accurate detailing and use of materials akin with the owners’ wishes, including the interior design and planning of the carpentry work, allowed the final project to become a fulfillment of her dream home.

The main challenge in taking on this project was to take into consideration the creative personality of the artist who owns this apartment together with her collection of items that give her joy and add color to her environment.

With the owner’s collaboration, we needed to carefully curate the pieces and the places they occupy in the space without appearing to clutter the environment nor interfere with the functions necessary to provide a living home.

The result is a well organized space that displays the artist’s paintings and showcases her collections. The true test of the success is her claim to the transformed apartment, making it her own. For us it is a testament of a special approach to interior design, integrating a very particular character together with our personal guidance and touch.

On October 7th, 2023, the Jewish Simchat Torah holiday, Hamas terrorists crossed the border between the Gaza strip and the state of Israel and commenced the worst attack on jewish people since the holocaust. More than 1,200 people have lost their lives and more than 200 were kidnapped to the tunnels of Hamas in the strip. These people were mostly civilians sleeping in their beds, partying in nature, jogging on the roads and doing whatever it is that free people do on their day off. That is what happened on October 7th - parts of the state of Israel were occupied by a foreign power. And thus, the Israeli personal and national sense of security was broken irreversibly. One of the outcomes of that nightmare of a day is a new code word in the IDF's vocabulary - "Breached circle". This is a development of the milder "Open circle", in which a single or small number of terrorists have made it into a settlement and started a killing spree. In this new scenario, the "Breached circle" indicates that a community is being completely overrun by terrorists and is, for all intended purposes, occupied by the enemy.

It is this code word, "Breached Circle", that inspires the idea for this entry. The shape of the plan evokes a memory of a circle, a circle that used to be whole, a circle that is now broken, breached. This circle is divided into 6 parts which meet at the top of the space of reflection to create a hexagonal oculus. Together with 6 triangular seats, this makes for a 3-dimensional, spatial Star of David, signifying that this atrocity happened to the Jewish people.

The memorial is situated next to the 9/11 memorial and it is respectful of this as it is not taller and it does not distract from it. It is not there to call out for attention, but rather it asks the public, politely, to come inside, explore and internalize. It fits modestly into its surroundings.

The space of reflection is a space with a concentric orientation surrounded by concrete walls that envelope it on all sides. The space and the sitting arrangement in it are centered around the hexagonal oculus. This is meaningful, as the light that shines through the top of the space, with contrast to the darkened space itself, draws the eye and creates the atmosphere necessary for contemplation. The space of reflection is detached from the loud and busy street life, giving you a safe and quiet place to consider the meaning of events, remember loved ones lost, think about what it is to be a free person in the world or just reflect on your day.

As you go down the path to the space of reflection it is getting narrower and the sky is blocked by the curving wall that accompanies your walk. This entrance is evoking a sense of unease, claustrophobia and dread. It is reminiscent of the way that the hostages of Hamas were forced to go through on the way to the underground terror tunnels of the Gaza strip. Once you get to the space of reflection, alone or in a group, you are encouraged, by the proportions of the space itself, to have a moment of silence by yourself, to reflect and to contemplate. Exiting the monument, you'd go through a reverse process, going out from darkness to light and life. This is important, as hope of a better future is something that the people of Israel have always had in their hearts and will continue to have (this is evident by the Israeli national anthem, aptly named "the Hope"). It signifies, and makes palpable, that there's always light and hope at the end of the tunnel.

As you descend to the space of reflection you are accompanied by a concrete wall that begins in a smooth texture but gradually gets more and more cracked and broken. This enhances the feeling of transition from a state of safety and confidence to a situation in which something is wrong. The choice to use concrete derives from its significance on the day of the attack, as it is the building material of the so-called "safe rooms", which are ubiquitous in Israel. On October 7th, some of these rooms (which are designed to guard from missile attacks) were able to keep the occupants safe and locked in, while others were tragically breached, burned or bombed.

The Hebrew language, like any language, exists in a space that cannot be quantified or contained. It exists in a space created by communication between its speakers through a variety of means, from everyday speech, to written language, and to digital correspondence. In this space, it develops as if by itself, but in fact, development occurs thanks to countless communicative interactions between its speakers. The Academy of the Hebrew Language has taken on, by law, the role of guiding the development of the language. This challenging task must naturally include the participation of the Hebrew-speaking public, since they are the ones who use the language and develop it. The word "Minveh" does not describe an existing structure because until today, Hebrew speakers have had no need for it - no house for the Hebrew language has yet to be built. Its construction invites an opportunity to think outside the box about the relationship between the public and the building and the urban environment. The location of the Minveh is also an opportunity. The plot on which the Minveh will be built lies between the language's past and its present - between the Museum of the Bible Lands and the National Library. Just as the Academy of the Hebrew Language, also in its incarnation as the Hebrew Language Committee, connects the past and the present, so the Minveh can connect between the museum and the library, between yesterday and today and at the same time look ahead to tomorrow. And so we have an opportunity to create a connection between the times, between the past and the present and the future.

The proposal for the Hebrew Language Academy is based on these two opportunities: urban connection by creating transitions and views between the project and its surroundings, and strengthening the connection between the Hebrew Language Academy and its audience in the virtual space by emphasizing it in the physical space.

The connection to the city begins with the pedestrian entrance to the lot via the Weiz-Rupin intersection by the creation of a gently sloping ramp beneath which most of the project is located. The ramp invites the public to stroll on the roof of the building and continues to the edge of the lot, where a restaurant with a balcony overlooking the Givat Ram campus is located. The ramp is at a height that will facilitate the connection to the planned promenade along Rupin Street to the north. In its center, the ramp "dips" towards Weiz Street, where the public is given the opportunity to gather in an open amphitheater overlooking the Biblical Lands Museum or descend to Weiz Street. In addition to the connection to the environment via the ramp, the proposal includes such a connection from within the exhibition itself via entry and exit terminals, which will allow visitors to move freely between the exhibition spaces and the urban space, thus adding frenzy and vitality to it.

The connection between the academy and its audience is already happening today thanks to its excellent social media department. One of the ideas for the exhibition at Minveh is to strengthen the department's activities by presenting them on the facade of the building using digital screens. Presenting this connection in the physical space will give it additional meaning, emphasizing the dynamism of the language. The same screens will also project products from interactive exhibitions that will be presented at the museum, thus increasing visitors' sense of belonging to the Minveh. At the end of the visit, visitors will be able to continue to update themselves on the results of their work at the Minveh through a dedicated app. This way, the academy's sphere of influence will reach the wider public sphere, far from its geographical location.

With this proposal, the center will improve the physical space in which it is located and at the same time will influence the space in which the language exists by maximizing public participation. Combining these two goals will create a structure of great significance to the urban environment and the Hebrew language, and will place the Academy of the Hebrew Language in the forefront of institutions for the study and promotion of languages ​​in the world.

Green building strategies

1. Using solar energy for the needs of the Minveh 2. Using thermal mass to regulate temperatures between day and night 3. Using the wind regime to create a ventilated space in the summer and a sheltered space in the winter 4. Using shading to block the sun in summer and passive heating in winter 5. Using vegetation to reduce the urban heat island effect

A one family home in a rural setting.

The design was conceived as a home for a couple with two growing children. The floor plan, in its simplicity, evolves as a spacious environment set up in an elevated garden that separates the home from the rest of the area and simultaneously invites people in.

The entrance is an iconic silhouette, making a big impression on people who come across it, whether as guests, passers-by or residents. Once in, the division of the house into 2 wings makes orientation very intuitive and comfortable.

The building is a flow of spaces used for the specific purposes of the family. Each one admits natural light and accommodates the necessary elements for its use. The Architecture serves as the backdrop for the owners’ personality. The scope of our work included custom made kitchen, bathroom cabinets and closets all detailed to perfection. The materials have a neutral palette of colors so that the personal input will stand out and enhance the spaces.

The construction and selection of materials consider energy savings, efficient maintenance and aesthetic value. The result is a timeless design that will develop with the changing of its use.

The project was made in collaboration with Rachel Barnoon.